Lake Highland Prep dominated both ends of the floor to overpower Windermere Prep 64-49 and maintain its status as Orlando’s No. 1-ranked boys basketball team on Friday night.
The Class 3A Highlanders (18-1), No. 2 behind only nationally ranked Miami Columbus in the FHSAA all-classes power rankings, led in all but the first 47 seconds and were up by 23 (59-36) in the fourth quarter at Windermere Prep. The Lakers (16-4) came in ranked No. 4 in 3A — which has three of the top four and four of the top six teams across all classifications.
Lake Highland’s ball movement made room for eight 3-point shots in the first half and 10 for the game. That created space for attack baskets by senior guard RJ Ingram, who finished with 18 points, 5 assists and 3 steals. Michael Madueme, also a senior, added 10 points and 11 assists. Junior Mark Dadlani added 14 points with four 3s and Shiva Atwal chipped in with 8 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists.
On the other end Windermere Prep made just 35% of its field goal attempts (17-of-48) against Lake Highland’s suffocating defense. FSU recruit Brandon Bass Jr., who came in averaging 27.4 points per game, was held to 16 on 4-of-20 shooting.
“They just played solid defense as a team,” Bass said. “They were in the gaps.”
Ingram said the Highlanders won’t rest with six regular-season games to go. .
“We had a good game plan and we were able to execute and limit their points,” he said. “We had a great game but we didn’t do everything perfectly. There’s always room for improvement.”
Dadlani’s third 3, just before halftime, gave his team a 38-18 lead. He is the one new face on Lake Highland’s roster as a transfer from Bishop Moore.
“He won the Edgewater game for us [Dec. 9],” Lake Highland coach Ben Fratrik said. “But then he hit a cold spell. He wasn’t making shots. But he kept defending and rebounding and playing hard. Recently he’s got his shot back and he’s really helping us.”
Connor Corris, Windermere Prep’s 6-foot-8 senior forward, had 9 points and 8 rebounds.
The 3A rankings have LHP at No. 1 followed by nationally ranked Calvary Christian (13-1) of Fort Lauderdale, North Broward Prep (19-1) and Jacksonville Jackson (20-1).
“Our classification is ridiculous,” Fratrik said earlier in the season.
Elsewhere Friday
Montverde Academy (8-4) won 66-57 against Oak Hill (13-4) of Virginia in a Hall of Fame Hoopfest game in Springfield, Massachusetts. .
Kissimmee Osceola (15-4), No. 9 in 7A, won 73-60 against St. Cloud (13-5) to claim the Orange Belt Conference tournament.
Evans (16-4), No. 6 in 6A, won 68-63 at Jones (8-9).
No. 5 6A Edgewater (11-7) won 87-71 at home against Wildwood (17-3).
Oviedo (14-4), winners of 10 of its past 11 games, prevailed 51-48 at Windermere High (9-11). The Lions play at Evans on Tuesday.
Lake Mary (14-5) won its seventh in a row, 57-56, against Seminole (7-12).
Lake Howell sophomore Johnas Maurice scored a career-high 35 points and added 4 assists in an 83-62 Thursday win against the Southeast Prep Academy varsity team.
Henry Robinson Jr. poured in 33 points and William Delarosa 30 for Pine Ridge (9-10) in a 90-65 Thursday win against the Potter’s House Christian Blue (B) team.
Eustis (13-4) and DeLand (14-4) both won Friday and play each other in a Monday MLK holiday game at the Spruce Creek Shootout.
Varsity content editor Buddy Collings can be contacted by email at bcollings@orlandosentinel.com.
